Moving abroad: Five steps to making your move simpler

Picking the right removal company will be one of the most important decisions you make when moving abroad.

Once you have decided you are moving abroad, it is vital that one of the first steps you take towards making your move as plain-sailing as possible is to choose the right removal company.

We chatted to the experts at Stuttaford Van Lines and found out the best way to approach a big move.

Step 1: Get a quote

The quote will be determined based on factors such as load size, travelling distance, the value of the furniture and the number of people required to help move your belongings. Get a quote so that you know more-or-less how much you’ll need to pay before you start making other decisions about your move.

Step 2: Do a check

When you are in the process of selecting a moving company, make sure that you check the following:

• Is the company a member of a removers’ association? • Does the company make home visits to ascertain how much baggage you will be moving abroad or to explain how they will handle valuable or heavy items? • Does the company offer secure storage facilities? • What is not included in the quote, like unpacking service fees and taxes?

Step 3: Compile an inventory

You will need to compile an inventory and submit it to the company of your choice. Use a spreadsheet to make this simpler as this sheet can then be used to sort out your home’s contents insurance.

Step 4: Sort out your stuff

The inventory will help with this, but you’ve also got to be brutal. Whatever is broken, or not loved, or too big and bulky, needs to stay behind. This process can be both cathartic and quite difficult but think about the money you can save by not shipping unnecessary goods to your new home.